WWE SmackDown Results 5/22 - Women's US Title Open Challenge, Rhea Ripley Appears

Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s live coverage for "WWE SmackDown" on May 22, 2026, coming to you live from the Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky!

Women's Champion Rhea Ripley will be making an appearance in the opening moments of tonight's show with something on her mind to share. With Ripley set to join forces with Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss to take on Cargill and her allies Michin and B-Fab at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event tomorrow night, Cargill called out Ripley during last Friday's edition of "SmackDown" and challenged her to define her title against her at WWE Clash in Italy on May 31.

Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, and Sami Zayn brought back the US Open Challenge back during their recent respective reigns as United States Champions, and now Women's United States Champion Tiffany Stratton looks to do the same as she has issued an Open Challenge for her title to anyone who wishes to answer the call. Not only will this mark Stratton's second ever defense since dethroning Giulia on the April 24 episode of "SmackDown", but she also most recently defended her title against Kiana James on the May 8 episode of "SmackDown".

Speaking of Hayes, he will be making an appearance of his own on tonight's show with intentions to address United States Champion Trick Williams and Williams' close ally Lil Yachty. Hayes emerged victorious against Ricky Saints last Friday, rolling him up with his feet on the ropes in the closing moments of the match just moments after Saints had been caught doing the same thing.

As he prepares to challenge Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Clash in Italy, GUNTHER will be making an appearance on tonight's show with something on his mind to share. GUNTHER emerged victorious against Royce Keys in a Number One Contenders Match last Friday to secure a shot at Rhodes' title at the May 31 Premium Live Event, but Rhodes left GUNTHER laid out in the ring moments after the match.

Additionally, Shinsuke Nakamura will be going head-to-head with MFT's Talla Tonga after Talla sent Nakamura crashing through a table backstage last Friday.

We are live! Wade Barrett and Corey Graves greet audiences at home before throwing it to a video of what went down between GUNTHER and Cody Rhodes last Friday.

Rhea Ripley then makes her way to the ring.

Ripley welcomes fans to Friday Night Mami and says she had one week off but someone really missed her: Jade Cargill. She says Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab tried sending her a message, but all they really did was make her mad and says she's itching for a fight. She tells Cargill that she'll happily beat her again to retain the Women's Championship at Clash in Italy.

Charlotte Flair's music hits and she makes her way to the ring along with Alexa Bliss. Flair says she appreciates Ripley wanting to define the Women's Championship, but she needs to remember their Six Woman Tag Team Match at Saturday Night's Main Event tomorrow night. She questions where Ripley was last Friday, and Ripley explains she wanted to go home and see her family.

Flair reiterates that herself and Bliss needed Ripley's help last Friday and says they have their own battles to fight. Ripley reminds Flair that she said herself and Bliss would be fine, then points out that Bliss took most of the ambush last Friday. Flair says Ripley is trying to drive a wedge between Bliss and herself, but Fatal Influence's music hits and Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid make their way out.

Jayne says there's nothing she likes watching more than the "SmackDown" women's division implode, which started when Fatal influence arrived and says Fatal Influence has ascended to the top while everyone else is at each other's throats. She says Fatal Influence takes every opportunity that they see, prompting Flair to challenge any two members of Fatal Influence to face herself and Bliss tonight. Jayne accepts.

We then head backstage, where Royce Keys comes face-to-face with Solo Sikoa and MFT once again. Sikoa says all Keys had to do last week is tell him that he didn't need help, but says there's no one better to help than family. MFT then makes their way to the ring, and Shinsuke Nakamura follows. 

Back from the break, Alexa Bliss tries to convince Charlotte Flair that she isn't medically cleared. Flair doesn't buy it, and Bliss reveals that she lied because she wants Rhea Ripley to replace her in tonight's match in order for Ripley and Flair to be able to co-exist tomorrow night at Saturday Night's Main Event.

The bell rings and the two lock up. Talla rocks Nakamura with a headbutt and fires off a boot on him in the corner, then delivers another headbutt to him and fires off stomps on him in the corner.

Talla whips Nakamura into the corner spine first, then connects with a bodyslam on him and levels him with a right hand to his spine. He sends Nakamura crashing into one of the barricades spine first on the outside, then sends him crashing into another barricade midsection first during the commercial break and follows it up with a right hand to Nakamura's midsection.

Talla dumps Nakamura back inside the ring, then lands an over the shoulder powerslam on Nakamura back from the break. Nakamura traps Talla into a Triangle, then transitions into a knee on the back of Talla's next and fires off kicks on Talla's chest.

Nakamura drapes Talla across the top turnbuckle and delivers a knee to his midsection, then sends him crashing into the mat and goes for a pin. Talla kicks out, but Sikoa hops up onto the ring apron as Nakamura sets up for a Kinshasa on Talla. Nakamura levels Sikoa with a knee, opening the door for Talla to deliver a scoop powerslam and the Talla T-Bomb on Namaura for the win.

Winner: Talla Tonga

After the match, MFT beats down Nakamura. Sikoa sets up for the Samoan Spike, but Tama Tonga stops him and lands a Cutthroat on Nakamura instead. He holds Nakamura in place with Talla for Sikoa to land a Samoan Spike on him, but Damoan Priest runs out to the ring with a chair in hand to come to Nakamura's aid.

We then head over to Nick Aldis' office, where the lights flicker as a referee leaves Aldis' office. Cody Rhodes walks in, and Aldis informs him that GUNTHER isn't here to sign the contract for their Undisputed WWE Championship Clash in Italy match. Rhodes tells Aldis he'll make sure GUNTHER signs the contract, but Aldis assures Rhodes that he'll handle it before Sami Zayn walks in and tells Rhodes that he has his back and can help him with anything. Rhodes declines Zayn's help, and Zayn becomes frustrated before knowing what he's doing tonight. Aldis says he may not have a spot for Zayn, but Zayn becomes frustrated and says Aldis would give Rhodes time if he asked. An irate Rhodes comes back into Aldis' office and demands a match against Zayn. 

Back at ringside, Tiffany Stratton makes her way out. 

Back from the break, we head backstage and see Tama Tonga explain to Solo Sikoa that people think MFT is weak right now. Tama and Sikoa make up as Talla stands by. 

Back at ringside, The Irresistible Forces makes her way out for Lash Legend answer the call for Stratton's Women's US Open Challenge. Nia Jax explains that herself and Legend still have every intention of dethroning Paige and Brie Bella as Women's Tag Team Champions tomorrow night, with Legend saying that she has her eye on more gold.

The bell rings and Legend runs over Stratton with a shoulder tackle. Stratton flies over the top rope to level Legend with a crossbody, but Legend rocks Stratton with a shoulder tackle and sends her crashing onto the apron spine first.

Chelsea Green makes her way out to check on Stratton and fan her, but Legend sends Stratton crashing into the middle turnbuckle face first during the commercial break. She sends Stratton's head bouncing off opposite middle ropes, then fires off shoulders on her midsection in the corner.

Back from the break, Legend rocks Stratton with a right hand and locks in a sleeper on her. Stratton responds with a springboard Stunner on Legend and pins her, but Legend kicks out and delivers a powerbomb to Stratton.

Stratton ascends to the top rope, but Jax looks to push her off. Stratton fends off Jax, but Green runs over Jax with a boot on the outside. Legend takes hold of Green, opening the door for Stratton to roll up Legend for the win.

Winner (and still): Tiffany Stratton

We then head backstage, where Nick Aldis discovers that Danhausen is the reason behind the power issues in the Rupp Arena as he experiments in his lair. Aldis spots a large item that resembles the size of a human under a blanket on a table, but Danhausen tells Aldis not to touch it. 

Back at ringside, Trick Williams and Lil Yachty make their way out. 

Yachty says if you interrupt a champion, you get lemon pepper stepped on. Carmelo Hayes' music hits and he makes his way out, and tells Williams that they both knew this day would come. He tells Williams to do the right thing and says Williams screwed him out of his United States Championship, but says there's a difference between carrying a title and being a champion. He says he was a champion as United States Champion for eight weeks and he won the people over with his blood, sweat, and tears before he invites Williams to give him and the people what they want: a United States Championship match between them.

Yachty says Williams has a schedule as United States Champion and opens Williams' planner including him getting a pedicure and a deep tissue massage, but Hayes asks the fans if anyone can understand what he's saying and once again asks for Williams to defend his United States Championship if his secretary in Yachty will allow it. He says he goes way back with Williams, then says the old Williams wouldn't let someone tell him what his schedule is. Williams agrees to defend his United States Championship against Hayes out of respect for everything they've been through, but clarifies that he won't be bringing back the US Open Challenge.

The bell rings and the two lock up. Williams runs over Hayes with a shoulder tackle, but Hayes fires off a few chops on Williams in the corner and Williams responds by firing off stomps on Hayes in the corner.

Hayes rocks Williams with an enzuigiri and fires off a couple more chops on his chest, but Williams catches Hayes with a pair of leg lariats. Hayes rolls up Williams, but Williams kicks out and lands a uranage on Hayes as Hayes looks to fly off the ropes.

Williams sends Hayes bouncing off the top rope face first, but Hayes looks to fly out of the ring. Yachty blocks Hayes' path, but Hayes gets out of the ring and sends Williams crashing into the ring steps shoulder first. Yachty teases hitting Hayes with his bedazzled kendo stick during the commercial break as Hayes dares him to do so, but Yachty decides against doing so.

Hayes lands a double chop on Williams on the outside of the ring.

Ricky Saints makes his way out to the ring as Hayes delivers a springboard lariat to Williams. He follows it up with Dirty Diana and goes for a pin, but Williams kicks out. Hayes then notes Saints at ringside.

Hayes rolls up Williams, but Saints hops up onto the apron to distract the referee. This opens the door for Williams to roll up Hayes for the win.

Winner (and still): Trick Williams

We then head backstage, where Sami Zayn vents his frustrations with his friend Cody Rhodes wanting to fight him tonight to a depressed Johnny Gargano. He says Gargano is the last good guy left and tells him to never change. 

We then head over and see Cathy Kelley catch up with Ricky Saints. An angered Carmelo Hayes appears out of nowhere to clock Saints and tell him to stay out of his business. 

Back at ringside, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss make their way down. Rhea Ripley and Fatal Influence follow. 

Flair and Henley begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Ripley and Reid tag in, and Ripley sends Reid crashing into the mat face first. She delivers a dropkick to her and sends her crashing into the mat, but Flair tags in and knocks an interfering Jayne off the ring apron.

Henley tags back in and sends Flair's face bouncing off the ring apron and the announce desk. She levels her with a clothesline on the outside, then dumps Flair back in the ring during the commercial break and sends her crashing into the middle turnbuckle face first.

Reid tags back in and lands a stomp on Flair, then fires off shoulders on her midsection in the corner and levels her with a superkick. Flair delivers a boot to Henley on the ring apron back from the break, but Jayne trips Flair as the referee is distracted by Ripley. This opens the door for Reid to land a twisting neckbreaker on Flair.

Henley tags in, but Flair knocks Reid on the apron with a right hand and sends Henley out to join her. Reid (who has tagged back in) stops Flair from tagging in Ripley, but Flair and Reid level one another with clotheslines.

Flair manages to tag in Ripley, and Ripley levels Henley and Reid with clotheslines. She lands a German suplex on Henley and rocks Reid with an enzuigiri, then levels her with a kick and goes for a pin. Henley breaks the fall, but Flair runs over her with a big boot.

Jayne checks on Reid outside of the ring, but Flair delivers a cannonball to take out Jayne and Reid. Reid accidentally hits Flair with a superkick when Ripley ducks out of the way, and Ripley connects with a Rip Tide. Flair tags herself in and delivers Natural Selection to Reid, then pins her for the win as the steals it from Ripley.

Winners: Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair

After the match, Jade Cargill, Michin, and B-Fab sneak up behind Ripley, Flair, and Bliss to attack them. Fatal Influence joins Cargill, Michin, and Michin as Flair and Bliss brawl with Michin, B-Fab, and Fatal Influence. Left alone together in the ring, Cargill delivers a big boot and Jaded to Ripley to leave her laid out in the ring.

Damian Priest then makes his wa to the ring. MFT follows. 

The bell rings and Priest levels Sikoa on the outside with a Double Ax Handle off the ring apron. He stares down Talla Tonga and sends Sikoa crashing into the ring steps, but the two men get inside the ring. Tama Tonga looks to trip Priest on the apron, but Priest sees him coming and looks to fly back into the ring from the apron. Sikoa catches Priest with a Samoan Drop mid-air.

During the commercial break, Tama lands a cheap right hand on Priest from the outside. Sikoa connects with a Hip Attack on Priest in the corner and gloats, but the two men teeter on the ropes back from the break as they exchange right hands with one another. Priest connects with a superplex on Sikoa and levels him, then lands a pair of jumping back elbows on him in the corner.

Sikoa charges at Priest in the corner, but Priest moves out of the way and Sikoa is sent crashing into it. Tama looks to trip Priest, but Priest gets in his face. Talla then delivers a cheap open palm strike to Priest from the outside and Sikoa follows it up with Spinning Solo to Priest in the ring. Sikoa then goes for a pin, but Priest kicks out.

Tama hops up onto the apron, but Priest clocks him. Sikoa looks to surprise him with a Samoan Spike, but Priest sees him coming and levels him. He clocks Talla as Talla stands on the apron and runs the ropes, but Sikoa intercepts him with a Samoan Spike for the win.

Winner: Solo Sikoa

After the match, MFT beats down Priest. Royce Keys' music hits and he makes his way out. He rocks Tama with a forearm and low bridges Talla onto the ring apron, then sends him crashing onto the floor with a clothesline and stares down Sikoa in the ring. Sikoa hops out of the ring before Priest can attack him, and Keys helps up Priest. Priest sets up for South of Heaven on Keys, but Keys pushes Priest's arm away.

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